Mr Davies, FED
RESTRICTED
FROM:
A R Paul
Hong Kong Department
DATE:
19 March 1991
Cc:
Mr Burns
AKB 020 / 2
RECEIVED IN
INDER
10 APR 1991
JAPAN/HONG KONG
1.
Thank you for your minute of 8 March recording the
suggestion of two members of the Japanese Embassy that the UK and Japan should increase their dialogue on Hong Kong
between now and 1997.
2..
The same suggestion had in fact been put to me by Mr Takahashi when he called on me in February. I also
warmly welcomed the suggestion, for the reasons given in your minute.
We had a good exchange on Hong Kong issues,
and I have subsequently written to him sending him further
information on such subjects and the level of British
investment in Hong Kong and law and order in Hong Kong.
3. I believe it is very much in our interest to have a dialogue with the Japanese on Hong Kong. Not only do they have insights into China/Hong Kong which will be of interest
to us; it is also vital that we get the Japanese to
understand our policy on Hong Kong and as far as possible give it their support. They are also in a position to
exercise some influence over the Chinese and could help to
reasure them about our motives over Hong Kong.
VIMADN/1
RESTRICTED
CC
10